Promote reading with secondary students - it's never too late to transform teens into readers.
Take on the challenge of encouraging non-readers to find that "home-run" book.
Develop a current, engaging collection that reflects the interests of your students and staff.
Search out ways to involve your students in the selection process.
Use displays, contests, reviews, involve classes - whatever it takes to get a book in their hands.
Make it easy to sign out books, renew or return them, stay positive and be flexible about overdues.
Displays using coloured photocopies on tag allow for the original book to go out
Display a selection of top reads - Fiction, Non-Fiction, Juniour and Senior titles
Stellar Books are identified with special labels.
Ideas for Promoting Books
Barnes and Noble Approach - Weed out the old stuff, replace damaged books, keep shelves no more than half full, vertically stack duplicate copies, stand up attractive hardcovers, use metal book display holders for your paperbacks. Dust and/or wipe down shelves. Make the Library shelves look inviting. Add signage to direct students to other areas... "Finished with Hunger Games? Try Michael Grant's Gone series", "Forget Edward! Have you met Jace in Cassandra Clare's latest series?"
New Books - I display our new books in display cases by the main entrance with bold signs proclaiming "New Books". Students are welcome to open the sliding doors and take out any title they wish to read.
Hallowe'en Fun - Dress up as a literary or fictional character for Hallowe'en. Have students enter their guess on an entry form and do a draw. The winner gets a gift certificate to a local book store.
Books to Movies - Display idea from a local public library "Books that became Movies". Have an old movie reel full of film kicking about in the dusty AV room? Twist the film and staple it down to make a unique frame for the display along with some old movie posters and popcorn containers.
READ Posters - Catch your staff members reading their favourite books. Encourage your photography teacher to work with you to make this into an assignment. Frame and display your finished prints in the library or put into a fundraising calendar or bookmarks.
Our basketball coach/History teacher
Eye Spy - Or take pictures of teachers reading a book, showing only their eyes. Have the students guess who the reader is. A great idea from Karen!
Book Promo Posters - Blend the titles, settings, quotes, illustrations, glimpses of exciting books into a visual poster trailer/collage promoting a great read. Involve the computer classes and see if some of your teachers might make this into a lesson in order to teach Photoshop techniques. There were some great examples shared at last year's BCTLA Conference in Burnaby.
Great poster idea from Burnbaby's BCTLA Conference
Shelf-based Book Reviews - Encourage students to complete a brief review and then display it on the shelves. You can even enter their name into a draw but usually seeing their words up in print seems motivating. One of our students collected data on these posted reviews for her psychology project and proved that they really increase sign-outs. Use acrylic shelf clip-ons from Carr McLean. Here's the format to copy to make your own:
Graphic Novel - Send out a stack of graphic novel books to make tagboard colour photocopies. Trim down and use these covers for displays - then the books can continue to circulate. (See photo above.) We label our graphic novels with GX and place them all in one area of the library, along with some comfortable pillows. Manga is arranged alphabetically by series name (Bleach, Death Note, Full Metal Alchemist, etc.) and if possible by volume number. We use acrylic Viz spinners to showcase the manga titles. The Beguiling book store in Toronto is my go-to company for anything graphic or manga. I made buttons using some fun slogan the LAC helped me write and wore these for a month-long promo for graphic novels.
Comics - Make large coloured tagboard prints of Sheldon Cooper (comic nerd) and display them along your library windows with funny accompanying quotes about comics. Just Google "Big Bang Theory" quotes Sheldon and you'll be stunned by what is available. Then pull all your graphic novel comics, books about drawing comics, comic collections such as Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, etc. and let the fun begin.
I Red a Book - Perfect for Valentines - fast display using only books with red (or lots of red) on the cover. When students sign out a book, simply replace it from your surplus pile or shelving cart. For fun run a draw contest with a box of red chocolates, Starbucks cards or Chapters gift card prizes.
Luck of the Irish - You'll need to buy some shamrock cookies as prizes - our cafeteria student made them for us. For each library book students signed out during the week before St. Patrick's Day, they rolled an oversize dice with the probability that they could win a tasty treat.
21 Books Display - A great idea about creating a book display of 21 books to read before you are 21. Thanks, Karen!
Stellar Books - We print off labels for the Stellar Books and affix these along the spines. Our bulletin board features coloured pictures of the current nominees with the actual books on hand to sign out. Past winners are archived above. The previous year's colourful book covers can be used for display purposes. See above photo.
AP English - I'm not a big fan of labelling book spines, but I've taken the AP English list of titles and affixed a small orange dot on each of the spines. This allows AP English students to easily locate the titles which their teacher recommends. It also reminds me not to weed some of the more worn copies I might otherwise turf. I also make a resource list of these AP titles so students can look at them at home on our Destiny online catalogue, read the TitlePeek reviews, and make more informed choices.
Reluctant Readers - I collect some of the most popular, current, and engaging paperback books together and feature these on two wire spinners close to the circulation desk. The books are sorted by series name, author or genre (Shan, Walters, Wicked History, My Story, Haddix, Romance, Sports, Orca, Rapid Reads, Classics, etc.). These spinners save so much time for students who struggle to locate books amidst the regular collection. The ESL students often select from these choices as well as those who are not keen readers. Once you have students hooked on Orca titles they love having all the Orcas in one place t o flip through. I explain that these books are located on the spinners to save busy students time and NEVER mention that they also represent some of my easier to read choices. Each one of these books has a green triangle (made from a coloured library tape square cut diagonally) on the top left corner of its cover to identify its location in the library. This helps my library TAs with reshelving.
Spinner rack with high-interest reads
French Books - Our French Fiction is labelled as FF and the French Non-Fiction is labelled as FR. This way I can track the sign-outs for my French teachers. I use blue shelf holders to designate this area along with a standing sign which says "French - Oh-La-La!"
Banned Books - Cover the inside of your display case with black paper, ripping open several small cracks for viewers to sneak a look. Drape the backdrop with black cloth and display books which have been censored. Use minimal lighting, post slogans about the sedicious nature of these books to encourage discussion.
Scholastic Teen Readers Club - Scholastic now offers a monthly set of order forms for teens. Display these near the circulation desk, and pop copies into the English teacher's mailboxes to share with students. Don't forget other adults in the building who might be interested in ordering from the other Scholastic flyers such as Seesaw, Elf, or Arrow books for inexpensive gifts for their children or grandchildren. Use the book credits you earn to create sets of literature circle titles for the English department to use (I keep these in the library) or purchase other current titles to add to your collection. If there is an awesome deal to be had, create posters and plaster them around the school. I sold almost 40 sets of the Hunger Games boxed set this way.
Literature Circles - A quick blurb on the electronic sign outside netted me some of the literature circle titles I needed for senior students: The Kite Runner, The Help, The Lovely Bones, Into Thin Air, etc. "In a book club? Consider donating your group's completed reads to our school library as literature circle titles. The WGSS Library thanks you." If you have a good working relationship with your public library you could also post a similar sign with a list of needed titles and see what comes in.
Book Clubs - Form a lunch hour or after school book club as your non-curricular contribution. Consider forming a separate club for ESL students. Thanks, Alison!
Author Talks - What better way to engage readers and develop an interest in writing than inviting an author in to speak to students! Our local public library has teamed up with us numerous times to sponsor visiting authors. We provide the venue, the teens, the promotion, and the enthusiasm while the public library applies for the necessary grant money to sponsor the visit. Don't forget to have the library's copies of the books on hand for autographing.
READING
Promote reading with secondary students - it's never too late to transform teens into readers.
Ideas for Promoting Books
Barnes and Noble Approach - Weed out the old stuff, replace damaged books, keep shelves no more than half full, vertically stack duplicate copies, stand up attractive hardcovers, use metal book display holders for your paperbacks. Dust and/or wipe down shelves. Make the Library shelves look inviting. Add signage to direct students to other areas... "Finished with Hunger Games? Try Michael Grant's Gone series", "Forget Edward! Have you met Jace in Cassandra Clare's latest series?"
New Books - I display our new books in display cases by the main entrance with bold signs proclaiming "New Books". Students are welcome to open the sliding doors and take out any title they wish to read.
Hallowe'en Fun - Dress up as a literary or fictional character for Hallowe'en. Have students enter their guess on an entry form and do a draw. The winner gets a gift certificate to a local book store.
Books to Movies - Display idea from a local public library "Books that became Movies". Have an old movie reel full of film kicking about in the dusty AV room? Twist the film and staple it down to make a unique frame for the display along with some old movie posters and popcorn containers.
READ Posters - Catch your staff members reading their favourite books. Encourage your photography teacher to work with you to make this into an assignment. Frame and display your finished prints in the library or put into a fundraising calendar or bookmarks.
Eye Spy - Or take pictures of teachers reading a book, showing only their eyes. Have the students guess who the reader is. A great idea from Karen!
Book Promo Posters - Blend the titles, settings, quotes, illustrations, glimpses of exciting books into a visual poster trailer/collage promoting a great read. Involve the computer classes and see if some of your teachers might make this into a lesson in order to teach Photoshop techniques. There were some great examples shared at last year's BCTLA Conference in Burnaby.
Shelf-based Book Reviews - Encourage students to complete a brief review and then display it on the shelves. You can even enter their name into a draw but usually seeing their words up in print seems motivating. One of our students collected data on these posted reviews for her psychology project and proved that they really increase sign-outs. Use acrylic shelf clip-ons from Carr McLean. Here's the format to copy to make your own:
Graphic Novel - Send out a stack of graphic novel books to make tagboard colour photocopies. Trim down and use these covers for displays - then the books can continue to circulate. (See photo above.) We label our graphic novels with GX and place them all in one area of the library, along with some comfortable pillows. Manga is arranged alphabetically by series name (Bleach, Death Note, Full Metal Alchemist, etc.) and if possible by volume number. We use acrylic Viz spinners to showcase the manga titles. The Beguiling book store in Toronto is my go-to company for anything graphic or manga. I made buttons using some fun slogan the LAC helped me write and wore these for a month-long promo for graphic novels.
Comics - Make large coloured tagboard prints of Sheldon Cooper (comic nerd) and display them along your library windows with funny accompanying quotes about comics. Just Google "Big Bang Theory" quotes Sheldon and you'll be stunned by what is available. Then pull all your graphic novel comics, books about drawing comics, comic collections such as Calvin and Hobbes, The Far Side, etc. and let the fun begin.
I Red a Book - Perfect for Valentines - fast display using only books with red (or lots of red) on the cover. When students sign out a book, simply replace it from your surplus pile or shelving cart. For fun run a draw contest with a box of red chocolates, Starbucks cards or Chapters gift card prizes.
Luck of the Irish - You'll need to buy some shamrock cookies as prizes - our cafeteria student made them for us. For each library book students signed out during the week before St. Patrick's Day, they rolled an oversize dice with the probability that they could win a tasty treat.
21 Books Display - A great idea about creating a book display of 21 books to read before you are 21. Thanks, Karen!
Stellar Books - We print off labels for the Stellar Books and affix these along the spines. Our bulletin board features coloured pictures of the current nominees with the actual books on hand to sign out. Past winners are archived above. The previous year's colourful book covers can be used for display purposes. See above photo.
AP English - I'm not a big fan of labelling book spines, but I've taken the AP English list of titles and affixed a small orange dot on each of the spines. This allows AP English students to easily locate the titles which their teacher recommends. It also reminds me not to weed some of the more worn copies I might otherwise turf. I also make a resource list of these AP titles so students can look at them at home on our Destiny online catalogue, read the TitlePeek reviews, and make more informed choices.
Reluctant Readers - I collect some of the most popular, current, and engaging paperback books together and feature these on two wire spinners close to the circulation desk. The books are sorted by series name, author or genre (Shan, Walters, Wicked History, My Story, Haddix, Romance, Sports, Orca, Rapid Reads, Classics, etc.). These spinners save so much time for students who struggle to locate books amidst the regular collection. The ESL students often select from these choices as well as those who are not keen readers. Once you have students hooked on Orca titles they love having all the Orcas in one place t o flip through. I explain that these books are located on the spinners to save busy students time and NEVER mention that they also represent some of my easier to read choices. Each one of these books has a green triangle (made from a coloured library tape square cut diagonally) on the top left corner of its cover to identify its location in the library. This helps my library TAs with reshelving.
French Books - Our French Fiction is labelled as FF and the French Non-Fiction is labelled as FR. This way I can track the sign-outs for my French teachers. I use blue shelf holders to designate this area along with a standing sign which says "French - Oh-La-La!"
Banned Books - Cover the inside of your display case with black paper, ripping open several small cracks for viewers to sneak a look. Drape the backdrop with black cloth and display books which have been censored. Use minimal lighting, post slogans about the sedicious nature of these books to encourage discussion.
Scholastic Teen Readers Club - Scholastic now offers a monthly set of order forms for teens. Display these near the circulation desk, and pop copies into the English teacher's mailboxes to share with students. Don't forget other adults in the building who might be interested in ordering from the other Scholastic flyers such as Seesaw, Elf, or Arrow books for inexpensive gifts for their children or grandchildren. Use the book credits you earn to create sets of literature circle titles for the English department to use (I keep these in the library) or purchase other current titles to add to your collection. If there is an awesome deal to be had, create posters and plaster them around the school. I sold almost 40 sets of the Hunger Games boxed set this way.
Literature Circles - A quick blurb on the electronic sign outside netted me some of the literature circle titles I needed for senior students: The Kite Runner, The Help, The Lovely Bones, Into Thin Air, etc. "In a book club? Consider donating your group's completed reads to our school library as literature circle titles. The WGSS Library thanks you." If you have a good working relationship with your public library you could also post a similar sign with a list of needed titles and see what comes in.
Book Clubs - Form a lunch hour or after school book club as your non-curricular contribution. Consider forming a separate club for ESL students. Thanks, Alison!
Author Talks - What better way to engage readers and develop an interest in writing than inviting an author in to speak to students! Our local public library has teamed up with us numerous times to sponsor visiting authors. We provide the venue, the teens, the promotion, and the enthusiasm while the public library applies for the necessary grant money to sponsor the visit. Don't forget to have the library's copies of the books on hand for autographing.